An Integrative Review of Postoperative Accelerated Recovery Protocols

We undertook an integrative literature review of articles pertaining to perioperative nursing care provided to patients using postoperative accelerated recovery protocols. To select the articles, we searched the MEDLINE, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde databases. We identified 329 studies, 13 of which met our inclusion criteria and described perioperative nursing care activities. Nursing activities noted in these articles were hypothermia prevention and maintenance of normothermia, restriction of IV fluids, assessment of vital signs, management of symptoms and pain, support of early ambulation, care for tubes and drains, oral administration of carbohydrate-rich foods, assessment of ability to tolerate diet, and encouragement to resume activities of daily living. There was a lack of research on this topic by nursing professionals; additional research by nursing professionals is needed regarding nurses' roles in providing this care.